Explosive.



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EDXVARD DICKSON, 0F SVVANTON, VERMONT, ASSIGNOR TO THE ROBIN.

, WOOD POXVDER COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

EXPLGSWE.

SPEGIFIOATIOZI forming; part of Letters iatent No. 678,860, dated July 16, 1901.

Application file (l October 18,1900.

To all whom it 7i'tl1j/ con-corn:

Be it known that I, EDWARD Bronson, a

subject of the Queen of Great Britain, residingat Swanton, in the county of Franklin and State of Vermont, have invented new and useful Improvements in Explosive Powders, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to explosive powders, particularly gunpowders, and is designed more especiall as an improvement upon the powder forming the subject-matter of my Letters Patent Bic. 567,536, of September 8,

It consists of the followingingredients, combined in about the proportions stated viz: ammonium picrat-o, per cent; potassium picrato, per cent-.; barium nitrate, 39.5 per cent; wood-flour, 9.5 per cent.; wheatilour, 1.25 per cent; lampblack .25 per cent, and ferrooyanid of potassium, .00 per cent.

All of the ingredients above mentioned are preferably used in'a powdered state.

in making the ammonium picrate ammonia is sprayed over picrate acid in about the proportions of gallons of ammonia to one hundred pounds of acid, and incident to the spraying the acid is continuously agitated.

In making the potassium picrate potash carbonate or potash bicarbonate, preferably the former, is dissolved in water. licrio acid is dissolved in boiling water and is comminglcd with the solution of potash. The product is then dried and reduced to a powder, when it ready for use as an ingredient of the composition before specified.

In manufacturing the powder tho ingredients are thoroughly mixed in a suitable apparatus, and the mass is then moistened by apaste composed oi gum-arable orgunrtragacanth and water in suitable proportions and kneaded into a still dough or paste. it is then granulated, and the grains are rounded and hardened in any approved manner. Af-

tor the powder is granulated and dried the grains or globules are preferably rendered non-absorbent by coating them with a compound composed of the ingredients and proparcd in the manner which will now be do- Serlal No. 83,503. (llo specimens-l scribed. In preparing said compound I pour three iluid ounces of nitric acid into one gallon of petroleum and agita to the mixture and then permit it "to stand for about thirty minutes. I then add three iiuid ounces of. sulfuric acid to the mixture and after again agitoting the same permit it to stand for about thirty minutes. While the mixture is at rest the acids and adark pitehy substance, the result of the mixture, settle to the bottom of the vessel. The clarified liquid above the settlement is then poured into another vessel, and six fluid ounces of liquid. .=-.mmonia are added thereto and the mixture allowed to stand about twenty-four hours. The ammonia sinks to the bottom of the vessel, and when the liquid is separated therefrom said liquid is ready for use.

The grains or globules of powder are coated with the liquid described by immersing them PATENT in or painting them with the liquid or in any other manner.

My improved powder is cheap and smokeless and while very effective subjects the bar rel of the arm used to very littlcstrain or pressure. I

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. An explosive powder, comprising ammonium picrate, barium nitrate, iToi-rooyanid of potassium, and potassium picrato.

2. An explosive powdo" consisting oi": arumonium picrato, $523.5 1 cent., potassium pier-ate, 15.5 per cent, barium nitrate, 39.5 per cent., flour, 10.75 per cent, lampblack; percent, and lcrr yanid of potassium, .50 per cent, substantially as specified.

3. An explosive powder comprising ammo nium picrate, barium nitrate, fcrrocyanid of potassium, and potassium pieraic; the said powder being;- roduced to a granular state and then coated with pctroleun'i, previously subjected to the action of nitric acid, sulifurie acid and ammonia, substimtially as specified.

4.-. An explosive powder consisting of ammoniuin picrate, 33.5 per cent, potassium picrate, l5.5 per cent, barium nitrate, 39.5

per cent, flour, 10.75 per cent., lampblack, In testimony whereof I have hereunto set .25 per cent., and ferrocyanid of potassium, my hand in presence of two subscribing wit- .50 per cent.; the said powder being reduced messes.

to a granular state, and then coated with pe- EDWARD DICKSON. 5 troleum, previously subjected to the action Witnesses:

of nitric acid, sulfuric acid and ammonia, sub- EDWIN I-I. RICHARDSON,

stantially as specified. ADDIE E. STOWE. 

